A bit slow on the uptake

Reminder to self, don't assume that a plug repaired puncture is good
for motorway speeds. It's not.
No harm done fortunately but that's two calls to the AA in 3 days now.

 

First time I've heard of one failing, TBH. Did the repairer indicate
whether it was an easy repair or a bit of a bodge?

--
_______
..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (brucedotrogers a.t rochedotcom)
\`\ | /`/ GSX-R1000K3 (slightly broken, currently missing)
`\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2, IBB#10
`\|/`
`

 

Perhaps it was a DIY job with the sort of kit I carry round (comes with
sort of 'sparklets' type bulbs for inflation, plugs, adhesive and tool)
but fortunately have never yet had to use. I would tend to treat that as
a get you home job only and take it in for a proper repair.

--

+-------------------------------------------------------------+
| Pete Fisher at Home: |
| Voxan Roadster Gilera Nordwest Yamaha WR250Z |
| Gilera GFR Moto Morini 2C/375 |
+-------------------------------------------------------------+

 

Ditto, in fact I've done motorway speeds with a nail still in the tyre,
and didn't die, so that must be safe too..

 

If it was a proper mushroom-headed plug done with the tyre off, it
certainly shouldn't have failed at all.

I take it this was a self-repair done with one of the small straight
plugs?

 

The one in the back tyre of my GSXR1000 was good for the maximum speed
it was capable of, over a fair distance.

 

Pete said:

I've used them - and then promptly forgotten tney were in there. Fine
for the rest of the life of the tyre on the Pan they were.

 

It was an AA applied rubber plug and it turns out, according to
Watling tyres in Catford that they had managed to make one hole into
two, this wasn't repairable so I now have a new back tyre

 

Mo wrote;

Was this an AA repair at roadside?
I ask cos I had some involvement with testing the (then) new plug kit
used by the AA.
After some proper research, we road-tested the plugs, 10 to a tyre,
front and rear, on Goldwings (3, I think), plus some volunteer staff
bikes. They all outlived the tread, or failed with a slow leak within a
few miles due to faulty fitting. Never heard of a catastrophic failure.
But we still recommended 60mph/100miles max. before
inspection/replacement, to be on the safe side.
It is alleged that I have done 115mph with 10 plugs in a tyre, but I
categorically deny the many occasions on which this happened
(allegedly).

 

As I understand it all insertable from the exterior plugs are not
necessarily suitable for a permanent repair. If the particular kit used
claims they are then OK, if not I wouldn't take the risk.


--

+-------------------------------------------------------------+
| Pete Fisher at Home: |
| Voxan Roadster Gilera Nordwest Yamaha WR250Z |
| Gilera GFR Moto Morini 2C/375 |
+-------------------------------------------------------------+

 

Pete said:

The one I used said it was OK for 50 miles at up to 40mph. I used to
think about that 4000 miles later poodling home at 120.

 

Fair enough. Nothing like the ultimate empirical test. Puts me in mind
of the "I don't care what it was designed to do, tell me what it can do"
(paraphrased) line from Aopollo 13.

Compared to most round here I am probably very risk averse but I don't
mind pushing the envelope a bit so far as matters under my control are
concerned. Entrusting my fate to a bit of rubber I have bodged in at
the side of the road whilst hot and bothered, just to get me home, and
then grossly exceeding the manufacturers design parameters just doesn't
give me a buzz somehow.


Anyway, what make, type of plug and insertion kit was it? Nothing like a
personal recommendation.
--

+-------------------------------------------------------------+
| Pete Fisher at Home: |
| Voxan Roadster Gilera Nordwest Yamaha WR250Z |
| Gilera GFR Moto Morini 2C/375 |
+-------------------------------------------------------------+

 

Yes, it was an AA roadside repair. Now I've had them done in the past
and they've lasted until I needed a new tyre. I think this may have
either been badly done or the damage was worse than it seemed. When I
ran over whatever it was there was quite a bang, when I realised I
had a puncture, about 3 or 4 miles later I checked and there was no
visible cause but there was a significant mark in the edge of the
hugger where the object had been carried round with the tyre then
ripped back out when it hit the hugger.

 

Pete said:

I can't remember the make - it was one with a slight mushroom on the
end, you reamed the hole (all from the outside), smeared rubber cement
on the plug, stretched it with a stretchy thing that came in the kit
and pushed it into the tyre. Smoke a fag then blow up the tyre and
ride like the wind.

 

Self vulcanising by the sound of it. Probably more high tech than mine
(which I have carried round for 10 years).

--

+-------------------------------------------------------------+
| Pete Fisher at Home: |
| Voxan Roadster Gilera Nordwest Yamaha WR250Z |
| Gilera GFR Moto Morini 2C/375 |
+-------------------------------------------------------------+

 

vulgarandmischevious said:

It's essential - without 'Flat-u-power' the tyre would go down. New
'Farto' puncture repair kits - only available from Simes-u-like plc.